IUCN classifies this species as "near threatened"; populations, especially in the northern part of the emperor penguin's range, are expected to decline within the next few generations as a result of projected climate change.

The distribution of emperor penguins is circumpolar on the Antarctic
continent within limits of the pack ice.

King Penguin

GENUS SPECIES

Aptenodytes patagonicus

SIZE

94 cm (37 in.), 13.5-16 kg (30-35 lb.)

DISTRIBUTION

subantarctic islands and peninsulas, usually forage in ice-free waters

PREY

squids, fishes

PREDATORS

leopard seals, skuas, giant petrels, gulls, sheathbills

POPULATION

about 2,000,000 adults

CURRENT STATUS

IUCN classifies this species as "least concern"; population stable or increasing

King penguins are found on subantarctic islands and peninsulas.
They usually forage for food in ice-free waters.

Adélie Penguin

GENUS SPECIES

Pygoscelis adeliae

SIZE

46-61 cm (18-24 in.), 3.5-4.5 kg (8-10 lb.)

DISTRIBUTION

circumpolar on Antarctic continent within limits of pack ice

PREY

primarily krill, also squids and fishes

PREDATORS

leopard seals, skuas, sheathbills

POPULATION

estimated at about 2,370,000 breeding pairs

CURRENT STATUS

IUCN classifies this species as "near threatened"; Adélie penguin populations are expected to decline, particularly in the northern part of their range, within the next few generations as a result of sea ice loss from climate change.

Adélie penguin distribution is circumpolar on the Antarctic continent
within the limits of the pack ice.

Rockhopper Penguin

subantarctic islands (southern rockhopper on the Falkland Islands and islands offshore of Chile and Argentina; northern rockhopper in the South Atlantic Ocean on Gough Island and islands in Tristan da Cunha and also in the southern Indian Ocean on Amsterdam and St. Paul Islands.

IUCN and the ESA classify this species as "endangered"; CITES lists in Appendix II (threatened); population decreasing; mainly threatened by overfishing by commercial fisheries and shifts in prey populations.

African penguins are found in South African waters.

Little Penguin

GENUS SPECIES

Eudyptula minor

SIZE

41–45 cm (16–19 in.), about 1 kg (2 lb.)

DISTRIBUTION

southern Australia and New Zealand

PREY

small fishes

PREDATORS

Australian sea lions, fur seals, dogs, cats, stoats, ferrets

POPULATION

less than 1 million individuals in Australia

CURRENT STATUS

ESA lists the white-flippered species/subspecies
as "threatened"; listed as "least concerned" by the IUCN

Fairy penguins are found along the coasts of
southern Australia and New Zealand.

Humboldt Penguin

GENUS SPECIES

Spheniscus humboldti

SIZE

56-66 cm (22-26 in.), 4 kg (9 lb.)

DISTRIBUTION

islands off western South America, and along the coasts of Peru and Chile

PREY

anchovetta (small fish)

PREDATORS

possibly sharks and Southern sea lions

POPULATION

approximately 2,500 to 9,999 mature individuals

CURRENT STATUS

IUCN classifies this species as "vulnerable"; listed as "threatened" on the ESA; CITES lists in Appendix I (endangered); significant threats include overfishing of prey species, drowning in gill nets, illegal capture for consumption, use as bait, illegal capture for the pet trade, and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.

Humboldt penguins are found on islands off of western South America
and along the coasts of Peru and Chile.

Galápagos Penguin

GENUS SPECIES

Spheniscus mendiculus

SIZE

53 cm (21 in.), about 2.5 kg (5-6 lb.)

DISTRIBUTION

Galápagos Islands

PREY

small fishes

PREDATORS

sharks, eared barn owls, Galápagos hawk, feral cats, dogs

POPULATION

about 1,200 mature individuals

CURRENT STATUS

IUCN classifies this species as "endangered "; listed as endangered on the US Endangered Species List; increased human exploitation of the island contributes to habitat degradation and disturbances. This species has also suffered population declines as a result of ENSO events.

Galápagos penguins are found on the Galápagos Islands
and off the coast of Ecuador on the equator.